So, aside from the fact that I was not a contestant in the Wellie Boot Chuck and that I walked by the Wellie Boot Chuck to actually go to the pub, I thought the Wellie Boot Chuck at one of my favorite pubs on the planet went rather well. See, I was under the impression that the boot chucking was done in the street in front of the pub and under some sadly false illusion that the view of the chucking could take place with an oatmeal stout in hand. No. Twas not to be. And, see, there was a 37 second walk from the stout to the chuck and I was more focused on the stout. So... we were in the pub. But I am pro-boot-chuck and, of course, pro-charity so it was not the pub, it was not the chucking... it was me. If you appreciate that you will understand everything.
And science can teach us things even when we don't wish to learn. So, what do we learn from the Kingston Brew Pub's rubber boot throwing? First, it does not take a lot to put together a good pub game. 
Frankly, the silliness adds to it all. Secondly, a pub game can be good for the community even if it is good and silly. I don't know how much was raised for charity but it was likely more than your pub raised... definitely more than I raised. Third... it's throwing a boot in public as your appetizer for a little craft ale. I would have thought that was your secret wish in life. And not just because it's mine.
To be clear - we did walk by and see the crowd of wellie chuckers. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon and the wind was still providing for the prospect of a great chuck. A lovely sight was made by smiling happy chuckers filling the air with wellies. What I want to know is this - why more pubs don't do this? Perhaps they do.
Comments
Amy - March 31, 2009 1:16 PM
Alan, When I was in high school we had a game called Merola. It was named after one of our classmates. It involved seeing how far you could throw a shoe down a field. Of course we weren't drinking beer at the time.
Alan - March 31, 2009 2:23 PM
We had games called "up down" and "bumball". In up down a bunch of teens went to a busy public park, threw and kicked a soccer ball in the air all the time shouting "it's up, it's up" until it wasn't when we shouted "it's down". Then we shouted random scores. Sooner or later someone came up and asked how the hell the rules worked.
Bumball consisted of kicking a soccer ball high in the air into a gang down field. Sort of a 500 Up layout. Everyone jostled as the ball was in the air and they attempted to cleanly trap the ball as it rebounded off the first bounce by turning arse towards the kicker and sitting down upon it at exactly the critical moment. When that occurred everyone shouted "BUMBALL!"
Either game might be enhanced by beer.